The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

About the Speaker

Micah White

Over the past three decades, Micah has evolved from stand-up comedian to a multi-faceted communicator and entertainer. Whether commanding a stage of thousands or leading intimate breakout sessions, he delivers with humor, relevance, and heart. His ability to connect with diverse audiences has made him a sought-after speaker for companies, conferences, and communities nationwide.

Micah White remains deeply connected to his community in Virginia. He is the visionary founder of RVA Has Talent, which fosters collaborations between local artists and nonprofits in Greater Richmond. He also launched an initiative at the Richmond City Jail, helping inmates cultivate creative skills and providing them with tools for meaningful employment after incarceration. As a TEDxRVA speaker, he has used his platform to address critical issues such as diversity, growth, and inclusion within corporations and organizations.

Off the stage, Micah serves as the Director of Development at the Richmond Volleyball Club. He serves on numerous boards, including Caritas, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Richmond, Backpacks of Love, Virginia Housing’s Minority Advisory Council, the Urban League of Greater Richmond, and the Girl Scouts’ Community Advisory Board.

Micah White’s mission is elegantly simple yet profoundly impactful: to use comedy and entertainment as tools to bridge racial, religious, political, socioeconomic, and generational divides. By blending laughter, leadership, and genuine connection, he breaks down barriers and builds bridges proving that humor is more than entertainment; it is a catalyst for unity, healing, and meaningful change.

The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

45 MINUTE SESSION

TRACK: RURAL INNOVATION

Explore the future of agriculture, technology, and manufacturing through the lens of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in this session featuring Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research. From spinach to mushrooms to fish production, CEA is revolutionizing the way we grow, produce, and innovate. Whether you’re a grower, tech innovator, or equipment manufacturer, this session will uncover specific entrepreneurial opportunities within the CEA industry. Learn from real-world examples, emerging technologies, and collaborative opportunities to position yourself for success in this fast-growing field.

Learning objectives for this workshop include:

• Identify specific entrepreneurial opportunities in CEA for agriculture, technology, and manufacturing sectors.
• Understand the latest innovations and trends shaping CEA, including automation, AI, and sustainable practices.
• Learn how to collaborate across sectors to capitalize on CEA’s growing market potential and solve industry challenges.

Speaker: Dr. Scott Lowman, Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

About the Speaker

Dr. Scott Lowman

Vice President, Applied Research, Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

Dr. Scott Lowman joined the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research (IALR) in 2014 and was named Vice President of Applied Research in 2022. Prior to joining IALR, Lowman worked in the pharmaceutical industry and, in 2003, co-founded Lynchburg Grows, a non-profit urban farm and job training center in Lynchburg, Va. As a trained molecular biologist, Lowman has championed work in biotechnology and robotic imaging to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. In 2020, Lowman teamed with Virginia Tech to launch the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center on IALR’s campus. The center, along with the Applied Research Division at IALR, focuses on supporting industry, governmental, and academic partners to help drive economic transformation in the Southern Virginia Region.

Lowman supports this mission in his civic life as well, serving on the Town Council of Altavista, as President of Altavista on Track, and as a member of Altavista’s Economic Development Authority. In recognition of his work, Lowman was named a 2017 Outstanding Recent Graduate Alumnus at Virginia Tech and was presented the Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Award from the Waldorf Foundation. Lowman earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with Honors from Virginia Tech, his master’s in biology from the College of William and Mary, and his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

45 MINUTE WORKSHOP

TRACK: BUSINESS SKILLS

Learning objectives for this workshop include:

• Identify three words that define a brand’s core messaging
• Understand the differences between owned, earned and paid marketing channels
• Recognize how visuals and storytelling strengthen brand presence
• Identify simple metrics to measure marketing success
• Learn how the upcoming RISE Ready, Set, Grow! Marketing Bootcamp will expand these concepts into a full strategy

Description:

Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. This interactive session will give entrepreneurs practical tools to define their brand, understand their audiences and create more visibility. In just 45 minutes, participants will explore how messaging, channels, visuals and measurement come together to grow a business.

Workshop Presenter: Chad Thompson, Account Executive, Letterpress Communications

Prerequisites: None

Notes for Attendees: For all entrepreneurs and business owners

The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

45 MINUTE WORKSHOP

TRACK: GETTING STARTED

Learning objectives for this workshop include:

• Understand the core components of a business model
• Learn how to assess the viability of your business idea
• Explore tools and techniques for developing a value proposition
• Discover practical steps for moving from concept to action
• Gain insights on how to set clear, actionable goals for your business journey

Description:

Are you thinking about starting your own business but unsure how to turn your idea into a viable plan? This session is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to take their first steps toward building a business model. You will be guided through the essentials of shaping your idea into a framework that can evolve into a sustainable business. Whether you’re exploring the possibilities or ready to take action, this session will provide the foundation you need to get started.

Workshop Presenter:Jocelyn Forest, Entrepreneurship Education Coordinator at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center

Prerequisites: None

Notes for Attendees: For businesses just starting out

Jocelyn Forest is an entrepreneurship and business educator who came to Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in 2024 with a wealth of experience having worked in a number of capacities for Halifax County Public Schools for the past 20 years. Most recently, she served as a business teacher and department chair at Halifax County High School. She utilizes her curriculum and technology skills as she works on the SVHEC Career Tech Academy team to lead the new Entrepreneurship Track at SVHEC. Jocelyn holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Averett University in Danville, VA. 

To learn more, connect with Jocelyn on LinkedIn here.

The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

45 MINUTE WORKSHOP

TRACK: BUSINESS SKILLS

Learning objectives for this workshop include:

• Participants will be able to identify common flaws and gaps that weaken business plans
• Participants will be able to evaluate business plans from an investor’s or grantor’s perspective
• Participants will understand the connection between a strong plan and improved access to capital
• Participants will gain practical strategies to strengthen their own business plans

Description:

Step into the role of an investor in Tank Test: Would You Invest? In this interactive session, you’ll review sample business plans with common flaws, decide which one deserves funding and learn what separates a strong plan from a weak one. You’ll walk away with sharper insights into how investors and grantors think and practical tips to strengthen your own business plan for accessing capital.

Workshop Presenter: Natalie Hodge Davis, Founder, Rudy’s Girl Media, & Southern Virginia Market Lead, Locus

Prerequisites: None

Notes for Attendees: For all businesses

Beyond her work in media, Natalie serves as a Community Market Lead with Locus, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), where she champions place-based investment strategies to strengthen Southern Virginia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. A founding member of the Martinsville-Henry County Minority Business Consortium and a key contributor to the RISE Collaborative’s strategic planning team, Natalie is committed to uplifting underrepresented voices and creating pathways for inclusive growth.

A dynamic speaker, storyteller, and ecosystem builder, Natalie continues to inspire audiences with her vision of how creativity, entrepreneurship and community capital can spark transformation in small towns and beyond.

The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

45 MINUTE WORKSHOP

TRACK: BUSINESS SKILLS

Learning objectives for this workshop include:

• Understanding the SCALE framework and how to apply it to transform your business from reactive to strategic growth
• Learning how to design systems and processes that free you from being the bottleneck in your business
• Gaining practical strategies for improving customer experience, turning clients into advocates who drive referrals
• Discovering how to leverage data, accountability, and leadership to align your team, improve decision-making, and scale results
• Leaving with an actionable roadmap for sustainable growth that reduces chaos and builds long-term scalability

Description:

“From Chaos to Growth: The SCALE Business Framework” gives entrepreneurs a practical roadmap to transform their business from constant firefighting to predictable growth. Participants will discover the five pillars of the SCALE framework: Strategy & Systems, Customer Experience, Analysis & Accountability, Leadership & Learning, and Execution. Then we will cover how to apply them directly to their own business. This session equips business owners to streamline operations, improve customer loyalty, and make smarter decisions with less stress. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to scale results without scaling their workload.

Workshop Presenter: Derrick Ziglar Jr., Founder, Thrive Consulting Group, Generational GameChangers, and Ziglar Properties LLC

Prerequisites: None

Notes for Attendees: For all businesses

The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

45 MINUTE WORKSHOP

TRACK: ACCESS TO CAPITAL

Learning objectives for this workshop include:

• Understanding the purpose and benefits of eVA for small businesses
• Learning how to create and optimize an eVA vendor profile
• Navigating search functions to identify relevant contracting opportunities
• Accessing resources and training within the eVA platform

Description:

Participants will be provided with an overview of eVA and will be guided through registering, finding opportunities, and using eVA’s tools to connect with buyers and better position their businesses for success.

Workshop Presenter: Kathy Deacon, Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD), Business Services Manager, Southwest Virginia

Prerequisites: None

Notes for Attendees: For businesses interested in procurement opportunities with the Commonwealth of Virginia

Kathy Deacon serves as the Business Services Manager for Southwest Virginia at the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD). In this role, she champions the growth and success of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators by facilitating access to education, resources, and opportunities within Virginia’s SWaM (Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned) procurement program and the broader state contracting system. 

Kathy brings a wealth of experience in economic development, having held leadership positions across the Commonwealth of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Kathy is a small business owner herself, and understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to empowering others to build and sustain successful ventures across the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.

The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

45 MINUTE WORKSHOP

TRACK: ACCESS TO CAPITAL

Learning objectives for this workshop include:

• Identifying the eligibility requirements for SWaM certification
• Understanding the benefits and strategic advantages of certification
• Learning the step-by-step application process
• Recognizing how certification supports access to procurement opportunities

Description:

This session provides an overview of Virginia’s Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned (SWaM) Certification program, its benefits, and the application process so they can leverage certification to grow their business.

Workshop Presenter: Randy Brown, Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD), Business Services Manager, Central – South

Prerequisites: None

Notes for Attendees: For current or prospective small, Women-Owned, and Minority-Owned businesses

Randolph (Randy) Brown, has worked as an internal market research consultant for several Fortune 50 companies. He began working at General Mills, assigned to some well-known established brands and developing new products. While there, he gained an excellent market research foundation of quantitative and qualitative research. In addition to General Mills, he has worked at General Foods and Colgate Palmolive. While at Colgate, Randy served as the Senior Market Research Manager for the Oral Care Division (Colgate Toothpaste, etc.). He was also the senior researcher assigned to the corporate ethnic marketing group.

Upon moving to Richmond, he worked as a consultant for a major market research consulting firm, then founded X-RAY Market Research Services, LLC (the firm is currently not pursuing public sector projects in Virginia).  He has served as a Certification Officer for SWaM and the federal Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) programs with the Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (formerly — Department of Minority Business Enterprise). One of the primary goals of The Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD) is to help small businesses within the Commonwealth to grow.

Randy now serves as the Business Services Manager for Central / South Virginia. His experiences at Fortune 50 companies, his own company, and his role with SBSD, share a common thread and underscore his passion to help businesses grow.